Locking assembly



R. P. SPRIGGS LOCKING ASSEMBLY May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April l5, 1959 ATTORNEY.

May 2, 1961 R. P. sPRlGGs 2,982,356

l LOCKING ASSEMBLY I Filed April 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

lll/)EIA INVENTOR.

ROBERT P. SPRIGGS,

?Qb E LOCKING ASSEMBLY VRobert P. 'Spriggs', Dallas, Tex., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Jersey lroduction Research iCompany,

Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Delaware e Filed Apr. 13,1959, ser?. Ni. 806,013

' i0 Claims. rc1; 16e- 114) Thepresent inventionis directed to a` locking assembly. y More particularly, the invention is concerned with a releasable locking assembly for a retrievable produc Figi is a partial sectional view showing the locking lassembly arranged vin a cased well containing parallel tubing strings;

Pig.v 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view lof the locking assembly of Fig. `l in an inoperative position;

Fig. 3 isa partial view of Fig; 2 showing the lock-ing assembly inV operative position;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view ofjthe device of Figs. 1 to 3 with the pivotal connection broken for releasing the latching dogs and' for removal of the assembly;

Fig.4 5 is a partialV sectional view of a modied device of Figs. 1 to 4` in inoperative position; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view to that of Fig. 5 in operative position. Y

Referring) now to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4V in which identical numerals will be employed to designate identical parts, numeral 11 designates g i United States Patent O a well bore drilled from the earths surface; not shown,

Ato penetrate hydrocarbon productive zones 12 and 13. Arranged in the well bore 11 is a casing string 14 shown schematically which is cemented in place with cement [while a 'supporting means 210 is shown in tubing string *18 fandnone in tubing string 19,v it is within the `purview of this invention to provide a supporting means similar 'jto 20 in the tubingst'ring 19 if desired. "i

a 'fj`The tubing strings 18 and 19 are interconnected by a rconnection.mea'n's 21.p`roviding a Vfluid passageway Y22. .'This` connecting means; while shown immediatelyl above 'a' packing means 2.3,'` may be arranged anywhere. within f1.3 to form perforations 16 and 17 respec- ICC ` illustrated and described at page 59() of the Composite Catalog supra. y

Arranged in the supporting means 20 is an elongated tubular member 27 which is latched and anchored by means 28 in the supporting Vmeans 20.` The. tubular member 27 is provided with sealing means `29 and 30 which are spaced apart above'and below the passageway 22 to isolate same as may be desired. While. the assembly is illustrated with a passageway 22, this may be dispensedV with and a single sealing .meansV such as 29 or 30 employed..

The elongated tubular 'member 27 is provided with Aa telescoping joint 31 which is shown by dotted lines 32 extending into the lower section of member 27. v a

In -the extended position the tubular member 27 is positioned in the conduit or bore 33 of the packer 26 and is engaged therewith by the latching dogs 34V engaging with the shoulder 35 of the conduit 33. The tubular member 27 is providedwith sealing means 36 which suitably'may vbe chevron packing or other sealing means which prevents flow of fluid through the conduit 33 excepting through member 27. Spaced from the latching dogs 34 on the tubular member 27 a Vdistance equal to the disance between the open upper end of thebore 33 and the shoulder 35 is an annular member 37 which suitably may be called a spacing means or a no-go ring. As will be clear from the drawing, shoulder 35 is downwardly facing. This spacing means may be provided with a suitable slot or slots 38 for passage of uid and may suitably be attached to the tubular member 27 by threaded means 39 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

Member 37 serves not only as a spacing or positioning means but also serves to support the lower section of member 27 in conduit 33. a

The upper end of the packer 26 may suitably be formed' as a guide means 40 which may be a funnelshaped member to Vguide the lower end 41 of the tubular member 27 into the conduit 33.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 more specifically, it will be seen that the latching dogs 34 are arranged in recesses 41 formed in the wall of the tubular member 27 and are urged outwardly by spring means 42 bearing in recesses 42a against the upper end of the latching dogs 34.

The latching dogs 34'are pivotally and releasably attached in the recesses 41 by shear pin pivots43 which are designedto be ruptured or broken at a certain pre- ;,determined and selected tension.

Y, Bearing against the lower end of the latching dogs 34 is a plug means 44which is held in a rst position by a frangible means such ask shear pin 4S, the plug means 44 being provided with a O-ring or other sealing means 47 for sealinglyengaging with the bore 418 of the tubular member 27. Y i y Y' On exerting pressure which maybe 'iluid .pressureor pressure imposed by a weight against the. plug44,fthe shear pin 45 is brokenV and, is forced out of Ythe bore 48 allowing the latchingdogs 34 to pivot on shear pins l 43 and be urged outwardly from the recess by springs Ithe ylength ofV tubing' strings, 1.8Vand 19. The packing means. 23;.is suitablyv .apacker such as vdescribed `Composite` Catalogi.I supra at page936.

Spese@ .belowr-thetlower ends 24 and 25 of thetuhing jstrings andl'19fzandbetwe`en"the zones 12 andz 13 'is i a packerp2`6 which suitablyinay `be a production packer in the a 42 as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 to engage with the shoulder 35. a 1

The embodiment `of Figsgl to 4 provides a releasable locking assembly and La tubularv conduit having an lopen bore since the plug 44 in moving from its first position to a second position is released from the passageway or bore 48. Y l

When it is desired to retrieve the tubular member 2.7, which it is noted is suflicientlyuelongated to extend from the lower `end of the tubing 18 through the packer 26, a suitableV grab or fishing toolis engaged with thehead 49 ofthe tubular conduit 27A and an upward jar istake'n onthe tubular member 27 sufficient to rupture the pivot v shear pins 43 and causreksame to be droppedidownwardly .member 50 into a second position.

v 3 l into the recess 41 as shown in Fig. 4. The tubular member Z7 is then retrieved through the tubing string 18 by upward pull on a wire line attached thereto.

-Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a modified embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 -is illustrated. In this particular instance, a modified plug 50 is attached by a shear pin 51 to the inner wall of a modified tubular member 27a and is sealed therein by a sealing means such as an -ring 53 arranged on the plug 50. In this embodiment the latching dogs 34 are identical to the latching dogs Ameans 57 containing serrations adapted to engage with a toothed latch 58 which is split for entrance into the latch receiving means 57, the toothed latch 58 being held lin the plate 55 by the threaded plug 59.

The device of Figs. and 6 operates similarly to the device of Figs. l to 4 in that pressure exerted against the plug 50 causes a rupture of the shear pin 51 and moves the threaded plug from its first releasably attached position to its second position in engagement with the toothed latch 58, the tension spring 52 being collapsed as shown in Fig. 5 and the latching dogs 34 being urged into engagement with the wall of bore 33 below shoulder 35 as shown in Fig. 6.

When it is desired to retrieve the device of Figs. 5

and 6, an upward pull causes the shear pins 43 to be broken and the latching dogs 34 slip downwardly in the recess 41.

The device of the presentV invention is quite advantageous and useful in the production of petroleum and hy- ,drocarbons from a plurality of zones simultaneously and separately as shown by the arrows indicating fiow of fluids. In this invention a positive locking effect is obtained which can only be released on exceeding a predetermined and selected tension on shear pin pivots v43. Thus, the locking assembly on the lower end of the tubular member locks the retrievable tubular member in place for multiple oil or gas well completions. The device is simple in construction, provides a positive lock, and is of such construction that it resists damage thereto during placement operations.

While the device has been illustrated with two locking dogs, any number'of locking dogs from Vone to four may be used satisfactorily. Likewise, while chevron packing and O-rings have been illustrated as the packing means, other packing means may suitably be used.

The operation of the invention and the advantages thereof may be easily understood by the description taken with the drawing.

The nature and objects of the present invention havking been described and illustrated, what I wish to claim asnewand useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1A releasable locking assembly which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, a conduit having an open upper end adapted to receive said tubular member and provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall,y said tubular member being formed to -provide a recess in its outer wall, a latching dog pivotally and releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to said tubular member in said recess, means bearing against said latching dog adjacent one end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, plug means releasably attached in the bore of said tubular member in a first position and bearing with its outer surface against said latching dog adjacent its other end and spacedfrorny said pointnormally urging said latching dog into said recess, and positioning means carried by said tubular member vertically spaced from said latching dog a distance equal to the distance from the open end of said conduit to said shoulder whereby on reception of said tubular member by and engagement of said positioning means with the open end of said conduit said locking dog is positioned opposite to and in engaging position with said shoulder, said tubular member also being supported in said conduit by said positioning means,`release of saidl plug means by pressure exerted thereagainst moving said plug means from its first position whereby said one end of said locking dog is urged into engagement with said shoulder to form a lock therebetween.

2. A releasable locking assembly which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, a conduit having an open upper end adapted to receive said tubular member and provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall, said tubular member being formed to provide a recess in its outer wall, a latching dog pivotally and releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to ,said tubular member in said recess, means bearing against said latching dog adjacent one end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, plug means in the bore of said tubular member bearing in a first position with its outer surface against said latching dog adjacent its other end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog into said recess, means releasably attaching said plug means in said bore, and positioning means carried by said tubular member vertically spaced from said latching dog a distance equal to the distance from the open end of said conduit to said shoulder whereby on reception of said tubular member by and engagement of said positioning means with the open end of said conduit said locking dog is positioned opposite to and in engaging position with said shoulder, said tubular member also being supported in said conduit by said positioning means, release of said plug means by pressure exerted thereagainst moving said plug means from its first position whereby said one end of said locking dog is urged into engagement with said shoulder to form a lock therebetween. j

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 2 in which the plug means is provided with sealing means for sealing between the plug means and the bore of said tubular member and in which the releasable attaching means for the plug means is a shear pin.

4. A releasable locking assembly which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, a conduit having an open upper end adapted to receive said tubular member and `provided withl a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall, said tubular member being formed to provide a recess in its outer wall, av latching dog Vpivotally and releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to said tubular member inv said recess, means bearing against Ysaid latchingdog adjacent one end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, plug means releasably attached in the bore of said Vtubular member in a first position and bearing with its duit to prevent fiow of fluid through said conduit, and an annular member carried by said tubular member verticallyspaced from said latching dog a distance' equal to the distance from the open end of said conduit to said shoulder whereby on reception of said tubular member fbyvand engagement of said annular member with the open endv of said conduit said locking dog is positioned opposite to and in engaging positionfwith said shoulder,

said tubular member also being supported in said 'conduit by said annular member, release of said plugmeans by pressure exerted thereagainst moving saidplug means lfrom its first position whereby said one end of said lock-` and provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on` its inner wall, said tubular member being formed to provide a recess in its outer wall, a latching dog pivotally and releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to said tubular member in said recess, means bearing against said latching dog adjacent one end Vand spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, a plug member releasably attached in the bore of said tubular member in a first position and bearing with its outer surface against said latching dog adjacent its other end and'spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog into said` recess, tension means bearing against said plug member and said tubular member normally urging said plug member into a second position, latching means carried by said tubular member for maintaining said plug member in said second position, and

positioning means carried by said tubular member vertically spaced from said latching doga distance equal to the distance from the open end of said conduit to said shoulder whereby `on reception of said tubular member by and engagement of said positioning means with the open end of said conduit said vlocking dog is positioned opposite to and in engaging position with saidY shoulder, said tubular memberralso being supported in said conduit by said positioning means, release of said plug member by pressure exerted thereagainst moving said plug member from its first to said second position whereby said one end of said locking dog is urged into engagement with saidfshoulder to formV a lock therebetween.

6. A releasable locking assembly for a cased well having a tubing positioned therein, which comprises,in combination, an elongated tubular member, a conduit having an open upper end vertically spaced below said tubing adapted to receive said tubular member and provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall, said Vtubular member being formed on its tirst end to provide a recess in its outer wall and being sealingly and releasably attached by its upper end `in the lower end of said tubing, a latching dog pivotally and'releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to said tubular member in said recess, means bearing against said latching dog adjacent one end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, .plug means releasably attached in the lbore of said tubular member in a rst position and bearing with its outer surface against said latching dog adjacent its other end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog into said recess, and positioning means carried by said tubular member vertically'spaced from said latching dog a distance equal to the distance from the openlend of said conduit to said Yshoulder whereby on reception of said `tubular member by and engagement of said positioning means with the open end of said conduitsaid locking dog is positioned opposite to and in engaging position l `its ends'.

with said shoulder, said tubular member also being' supportedin said conduit by said positioning means, release of said plug means by pressure exerted thereagainst moving said plug means` from its first position whereby said one end of said locking dog is urged into engagement with said shoulder to form a lock therebetween.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 6 in which the conduit forms the bore of a packer.

8. An assembly in accordance with claim 6 in which the tubular member has a telescoping joint intermediate V9. A releasable locking assembly which comprises, in combination, a tubular member, a conduit having an open upper end adapted to receive said tubular member-'and provided with a downwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall, said tubular member being formed to provide a recess in Vits outer wall, a latching dog pivotally and releasably attached at an intermediate point thereof to said tubular member in said recess, means bearing against said latching dog adjacent one end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog out of said recess, plug means in the bore of said tubular member bearing in a first position with its outer surface .against said latching dog adjacent its other end and spaced from said point normally urging said latching dog into said recess, means releasably attaching said plug means in said bore, said plug means being provided with sealing means for sealing between the plug means and the bore of said tubular member, means carried by said tubular member for sealing with the inner wall of said conduit to prevent flow of fluid through said conduit, and an annular member carried by said tubular member vertically spacedA from said latching dog a distance equal to the distance from the open end of said conduit to saidshoulder whereby on reception of said tubular member by and engagement of said annular member with the open end of said conduit, said locking dog is positioned opposite to i and in engaging position with said shoulder, said tubular soY References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,167,445 Brown July 25, 1939 2,297,044 Barker et al. Sept. 29, A1942 2,781,854 Boer et al. Feb. 19, 1957 2,822,048 Tausch Feb. 4, 1958v 2,885,007 Hoter May 5, 1959 2,906,342 Russell et al. Sept. 29, 1959 2,927,640

Kenneday Mar, 8, 1960 

